Rep. Yoon Jun-byeong of the Democratic Party of Korea [provided by the lawmaker's office]
Rep. Yoon Jun-byeong of the Democratic Party of Korea [provided by the lawmaker's office]

Rep. Yoon Jun-byeong of the Democratic Party of Korea, who sits on the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee and represents Jeongeup and Gochang-gun in North Jeolla Province, said Monday he had introduced a bill to eliminate illegal commercial activity and excessive fee collection at beaches, protect beachgoers and promote a healthier leisure culture.

Under current law, commercial activity at beaches without authorization from the managing authority — or outside designated areas — is prohibited, as is interference by licensed beach-gear rental operators with beachgoers' right to set up or use their own equipment outside the licensed zone.

Existing law addresses unauthorized occupation and damage to beach facilities, but lacks a clear legal basis to directly sanction operators who demand money for spot fees or facility use without legitimate authority, or who charge rates exceeding those set by local government ordinances.

As a result, complaints from beachgoers over price gouging and unauthorized fee demands have recurred every summer.

Yoon said he introduced the amendment "to protect the rights and interests of beachgoers and establish order at beaches."

The bill would require operators entrusted with beach management to post fees set by local ordinances in a clearly visible location and would ban them from collecting or demanding any amount above those rates. It would also prohibit demanding payment in connection with the use of beach facilities or the setup and use of personal beach gear without legitimate authority.

The bill further stipulates that managing authorities may terminate the designation of operators found to have charged above-ordinance rates or demanded unauthorized spot fees. It also grants civil servants the power to enter commercial premises and rental facilities at beaches to inspect books and documents, giving the legislation enforcement teeth.

Yoon said unauthorized occupation of beach space and price gouging in defiance of local ordinances "not only disturb the public's right to rest comfortably but are a chronic ill that threatens the entire local tourism ecosystem," adding that demanding money without proper authority or charging excessive fees "must be eradicated without exception." The amendment, he said, is designed to ensure transparent disclosure of fees for beach gear and facilities and to institutionally block price gouging that exploits the peak summer season.


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